Nepal Police Club (NPC) stunned Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) 3-2 in tiebreaker after a 1-1 deadlock in normal time to enter the semi-finals of the Birat Gold Cup football tournament here on Tuesday.

Binod Karki appeared to have sealed the match for NPC after scoring in the 71st minute until a Sujal Shrestha strike deep into the injury time forced the match into another 20 minutes of play. The game headed for tiebreaker as the deadlock stood at 1-1 even after the extra time. Jumanu Rai headed a Rabin Shrestha freekick in the path of Karki, who made no mistake from the close range. But MMC equalised from a penalty shot. MMC were awarded the spot kick after NPC defender Ajit Bhandari handled the ball inside the area. Shrestha dully converted the penalty to push the game into 20 minutes of extra time. 

Bharat Shah, Jumanu Rai and Hem Tamang converted the spot kicks while Bhola Silwal and Suman Subedi missed their hits for the departmental team. Only Moussa and Sujal scored for the Aaha Gold Cup and Suman Bhomjan Memorial Gold Cup champions MMC. Anil Gurung, Biswash Shrestha and Sissoko squandered their chances to hand Nepal a place in the semi-finals. 

Substitute goalkeeper Roshan Khadka, who replaced regular custodian Bishal Shrestha in the dying moments of the extra time, was star performer for NPC in tiebreaker as he made two crucial saves. NPC, who were a late replacement for Bangladeshi FC, will tackle hosts Morang FC on Thursday for a place in the final.

“A minor mistake in the injury time forced the match into extra time. But I am happy to have walked away with the victory,” said NPC coach Ananta Thapa, leading the side in the absence of regular coach Birat Krishna Shrestha. MMC coach Chhiring Lobsang Gurung believed that luck was against his team.

n Jumanu Rai (right) and Sissoko of Manang Marshyangdi Club battle for the ball during their Birat Gold Cup quarter-final match in Biratnagar on Tuesday. Post Photo